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Luka Modric has started running again after injury but remains out of the running for Thursday night's UEFA Cup Group D match against NEC Nijmegen in Holland.

Luka Modric has started running again after injury but remains out of the running for Thursday night's UEFA Cup Group D match against NEC Nijmegen in Holland.

The midfielder is on his way back after suffering a groin strain at Fulham on November 15 but is not yet ready for a return to action.

Giovani remains out with his ankle sprain while Alan Hutton faces a spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.

Ledley King has not travelled to Holland and Gilberto also misses out after sustaining a minor hamstring tear during Monday's reserve team encounter against Stoke.

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka are cup-tied and boss Harry Redknapp has included five youngsters in the squad in John Bostock - who played in our last group match against Dinamo Zagreb - Ryan Mason, Adam Smith, Jonathan Obika and Yaser Kasim.

"The younger lads are here, they are involved and I'll have a close look at them in training," said Harry.

"Some of them are new to me as my concentration has been on the first team squad but I watched the Under-18s play Coventry after we had trained on Saturday."